Chapter Thirteen
Sfax, Tunisia
“Same people?” Patton said, his eyes still on the rearview mirror.
The red BMW was now three car lengths behind them.
“Maybe, maybe not. They could have called friends.”
“What is this, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, that they get to call a friend?”
“Don’t know, but we’ll be in big trouble if we don’t get rid of them.” Justin held his pistol close to his face.
“Wait until they open fire.”
“Really? After all that happened at the warehouse?”
“What if they’re cops?”
“They don’t look like cops.”
“Undercover agents. Or from Tunisian intelligence services.”
Justin thought about Patton’s words for a moment. The Tunisian security intelligence agencies could be very efficient. So he nodded and said, “All right, but let’s lose them.”
“Hold on to something.”
Patton glanced over his shoulder, then looked to the right, and yanked at the steering wheel. The truck fishtailed as it drifted onto the opposite lane. There was little oncoming traffic, and Patton straightened the wheel. He switched lanes just as a van barrelled so close that Justin thought it was going to clip the rear of the truck bed.
Patton turned the steering wheel again, dodging a taxi that was able to stop in time. He drove around the taxi and a couple of small cars that were slowing down behind it, and then cut into a small gap and zipped into a side alley.
Justin turned his head when a couple of bullets punched through the back of the cab. A third one shattered the cab’s glass. He slid down into his seat as Patton passed a couple of cars. “That’s not the police or intelligence agencies.”
Patton shrugged. “Unless they think we’re terrorists.”
Justin peeked over the headrest. The red BMW was gone, but he had no illusion the chase was over. “We need a new vehicle.”
Patton gestured at a bazaar coming up on their left. “How about we escape on foot? They can’t find us in there.”
Justin glanced at the multicolored stalls showcasing all kinds of clothing, jewelry, fresh fruit, dried herbs, and every other imaginable thing. “Sure, but let’s catch a cab on the other side.”
“Good idea.”
They parked when traffic slowed to a crawl. Patton left the keys in the truck, knowing that it would disappear in a matter of minutes, if not sooner. He followed Justin, who had already elbowed his way into the thick crowd.
The two agents walked at a brisk pace, avoiding the merchants hawking their wares. Justin thought about Karolin, perhaps buying her a scarf or a bracelet. He shrugged off the thought. Another time, when we’re not being chased and hunted...
It took a couple of minutes to meander through the crooked, maze-like narrow paths of the bazaar. When they came near the end, they began to look for the red BMW or anyone who might look suspicious. Justin doubted anyone could have tracked them down this far, but the training had ingrained a motto into his brain: Always expect the worst, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. “See anything?” Justin said.
Patton shook his head. “No. First cab driver?” He gestured toward the taxis lined up to one side.
“No, he looks shady.”
“How so?”
“The tattoo on his forearm.”
“Aren’t you being a little biased?”
“When it comes to life and death? You bet I’m biased.”
“All right, let’s go with the other one. He looks too young to be working for Tunisian intelligence.”
“Perhaps he’s an asset?”
“Should we walk?”
“No, and I don’t want to steal another car.”
“Taxi number two it is, then.”
“Sure, but let’s have him drop us off three, four blocks away from the hotel.”
“How close?”
“Somewhere along Tunis Road.”
Patton approached the young man, who could not be older than fourteen, maybe fifteen. He was wearing a white t-shirt and black jeans and was fumbling with his phone. Patton spoke to the man in a low voice in English, and he nodded right away at Patton.
Justin began to step closer to the taxi, but just then the tattooed man came over and began to argue with the young man, accusing him of stealing his client and not waiting for his turn. The young man pointed out how Patton had approached him, which was allowed under the rules among the cab drivers. After a few tense moments, the tattooed man seemed to calm down and left, but a menacing glare remained on his face.
As Patton got into the cab, Justin hurried from the other side. The agents did not want anyone to see the pair get into the same taxi, in case someone came asking questions.
The driver was startled when Justin slid in right behind him. “Hey, get out, I already have a client,” he said in Arabic in an angry tone.
“Relax,” Patton said to the driver. “He’s with me.”
“Oh ... I ... I had no idea.” The driver switched to English with a slight accent that, to Justin, sounded like British. “You told me nothing about your friend.”
“Must have slipped my mind, with that grouchy man there.” Patton tipped his head toward the tattooed man, who had turned his back and was talking to one of the vendors at the edge of the bazaar.
The driver shrugged and looked around. “Any other friends surprising us?”
“No, this is it. We can go now,” Patton replied.
The driver started the engine, and the yellow taxi made its way through the crowded street. It took about a minute to go only three blocks, but once they got onto Route Lafrane, the traffic was moving faster. Justin rolled down a window as the air inside the cab had gotten muggy, and there was a strong smell of sweat. But the dust and the smell from the outside was not much better. He left the window half-rolled and leaned back in his seat.
They drove in silence for the next five minutes, then Patton’s phone beeped. He answered, “Yes, what’s going on?” He listened for a moment, then said, “What? Repeat your last...”
Justin sat up straight. A frown creased his face. Patton’s tone of voice left little doubt that something had gone sideways. A dark thought clouded his mind. Tunis ... Karolin? I hope nothing has happened to Karolin and Carrie.
Patton listened for another moment, then told the driver. “Stop the car.”
“What? Why?”
“Just pull over to the side. Right now.”
“All right, all right. No need to shout.”
While the driver was cutting through traffic, Patton turned his head. His wary eyes did all the talking, but still he said, “Justin, something bad happened in Tunis.”